The Edmonton Oilers traded for the rights to a free agent defenceman, and got him signed to a two-year deal, paying a premium for a shorter term contract. Dan Marino Jersey . Numbers Game looks at the Oilers inking Nikita Nikitin. The Oilers Get: D Nikita Nikitin. Nikitin, 28, played a career-high 66 games last season, an indication that hes still trying to establish his place in the league. A couple of years ago, in 2011-2012, Nikitin contributed a career-best 32 points in 54 games for Columbus (after seven scoreless games with St. Louis to start the year), playing a career-high 23:12 per game for the season putting up strong relative possession numbers while facing high-quality opposition, while frequently paired with veteran Fedor Tyutin. Thats the Nikitin that the Oilers have to hope they are acquiring. In 2012-2013, Nikitins role was decreased somewhat, and while he still logged 21:12 per game, Nikitin was then surpassed on the depth chart last season by rookie Ryan Murray, leaving Nikitin to play 17:07 per game on the third pair. Playing on that third pair didnt bring ideal results, as Nikitin was a little below break-even in possession terms, but if there is reason to hold out hope for Nikitin, it may be that his with-or-without you numbers arent bad over the past three seasons. Among the 16 skaters with whom he played at least 300 5-on-5 minutes over those three seasons, Nikitin had better possession numbers apart than 11 of those skaters, but that relative effectiveness has decreased in the past two seasons, to the point that in 2013-2014, Nikitin had better possession stats apart from just three of the 13 skaters with whom he played more than 150 5-on-5 minutes. What this would seem to indicate is that Nikitin, who has good size, can skate and handle the puck a bit, isnt necessarily one to carry the play. He could be a useful complementary player and presumably Oilers Senior VP of Hockey Operations Scott Howson (who acquired Nikitin as GM in Columbus) is a fan, but there is risk in bringing in a player with falling possession numbers to a team that already ranked 28th in Fenwick Close (unblocked shot attempts during 5-on-5, score within one goal in first two periods and tied in third period). Its not as though Nikitins play in the past couple seasons indicates that he would improve the results no matter with whom he is partnered and its reasonable to wonder if the Oilers have the right personnel to get positive results with Nikitin on the ice. If the Jeff Petry and Martin Marincin pairing goes ahead, then perhaps Nikitin gets a chance alongside Andrew Ference. Maybe that somehow works out and allows the Oilers some time to develop their young defencemen. Its entirely possible that it wont work out, though, and the short-term nature of the contract suggests that both sides recognize that risk. Signed to a two-year, $9-million deal, Nikitin will be well-compensated, particularly if he cant stick in the Oilers top four, but the downside of a two-year deal is limited compared to the longer term that will be available to other free agent defencemen. The Blue Jackets Get: A fifth-round pick. Since the Blue Jackets werent going to bring Nikitin back, getting any asset in return is a plus. The fifth-round pick, 137th overall, belonged to Columbus originally and was traded to Edmonton last season to acquire D Nick Schultz. A fifth-round pick doesnt bring a lot of value, but its something. From 1990 through 2009, just under 15% of the picks between 121 and 150 played at least 100 NHL games, so there is a little better than a one-in-seven chance of netting an NHL player. While its reasonable for the Oilers to have hope Nikitin can perform in a top-four role, it could be telling that the Blue Jackets would let Nikitin depart as a free agent. Mabye they simply didnt want to pay that kind of money to a third pair defenceman, when they have younger, cheaper options (David Savard, Dalton Prout, Tim Erixon) available and thats fair, but current Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen was the Blues Director of Scouting when St. Louis picked Nikitin in the fifth round in 2004. Lots can change over time and the Blue Jackets arent likely to regret letting Nikitin go, even if he works out well for the Oilers. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. Albert Wilson Dolphins Jersey .com) - The Toronto Raptors are paying Rudy Gay a visit on Wednesday night when they head into the Sleep Train Arena to take on the Sacramento Kings. Jerome Baker Jersey . Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Doug Martin broke the news that hes cleared for full activity moving forward. http://www.thedolphinsfansclub.com/Black-Dan-Marino-Dolphins-Jersey.html?cat=861 . made a diving catch in left field for the final out in a 1-0 victory over the Miami Marlins in a regular-season finale Sunday. Zimmermann (14-5) allowed only two baserunners, finishing with 10 strikeouts and one walk in the fifth no-hitter in the majors this year.TORONTO - When Matt Black was a 16-year-old playing in the Ontario Varsity Football League, younger brother Eric was the teams water boy. Thats as close as the Blacks — separated by six years — have come to playing together, until now. The Toronto Argonauts selected Eric with the 38th overall pick in Tuesday nights CFL draft, six years after they drafted Matt — the latest and most exciting chapter in the siblings story. "It was crazy. Its hard to talk about it," Eric said Wednesday. "Its something Ive been working for and dreaming about since I watched my brother do it. And to get drafted to any team, let alone my hometown, with my brother, its just a team come true." Eric, 23, and 29-year-old Matt met with the media at the Argonauts downtown office on Wednesday, their first duty together as teammates. Matt helped Eric thread a television mic down his shirt, joking "He cant even dress himself." The brothers were following the draft together their parents Toronto home when Erics name came up alongside the Argos. Their mom Marlane cried. Dad Donovan said: "Its time to get to work." "I leapt up. . . Im staying home, Im staying home," Eric said. The brothers, who both attended Torontos Northern Secondary School, grew up playing numerous sports — baseball, soccer, rugby, track and field. They took different paths to the CFL. Matt, a 5-10 safety who was taken 45th overall by the Argos in 2008, played college ball at Saginaw Valley State. Eric, a defensive back whos a couple inches taller than his older brother, played in the CIS at St. Marys University. But Matt has been instrumental in Erics development, the younger brother said. "Id watch him do everything and try to emulate him, and hes set a good path for me," Eric said. "To have my older brother, whos been teaching me how to handle myself in life and on the field, be on the same team as me, its great." Matt wiped away a tear as Eric spoke to reporters. "Ive always wanted to have that opportunity (to play together)," Matt said. "He was always just a year away from playing with me or two years away from playing with me. So its always been close but no cigar. Now the fact that were going to get to suit up for the Argos, I think the only person happier than me is my mom. Its an awesome dream come true. "Hes worked so hard for this opportunity, hes done everything he needed to do and thats what makes me so proud of him, how hard hes worked." Matt began his Argos career on special teams, but persevered to become a solid safety with the team. Eric hopes to do the same. "MMatt is the grind story, what a lot of Canadians wish to be, they start off on special teams, might not get to start right away, but you work your way up, you cut your teeth and now hes a vet, a contributing member on this team," Eric said. Jason Sanders Jersey. Any good feelings between siblings will be put aside during Argos rookie initiations, the brothers said laughing. "I dont think hes going to spare me the rod at all," Eric said. Added Matt: "If anything, his spears going to be sharper than everyone elses. Hes going to get it worse. Ill definitely be calling him up to sing at rookie camp nice and early, so hed better have a good song. If it sucks, hes going again." Argonauts GM Jim Barker said the club knows its getting a solid person in Eric. "You know a little more about him because Matt is such a quality person in the community, hes the kind of guy you want to have in your organization," Barker said. "You know coming from that family, hes going to be similar. Those kinds of things help. Eric we know really well because of Matt, and that helped making the pick." Barker added with a laugh that Matt was down at the Argos office on Tuesday afternoon "politicking" for Eric. He believes the younger brother will be on a faster track to adjusting to the team, "just because hes going to have Matt whos telling him things that he sees that hes doing that he can do better. "Matt is a veteran guy, one of the most veteran guys we have, so obviously that helps Eric. But hes going to have to produce on the field, and hes going to have to be the best guy for this team in order to be a guy who sticks." Barker said the team was pleased with the eight players it acquired in a draft that saw five first-round trades as well as another involving an early second-round selection. "It was just such a bizarre draft, it was one like none Ive ever been in," Barker said. "There was no telling what was going to happen." The Argos kicked off the first round with a trade that saw them land running back Anthony Coombs (Manitoba Bisons) third overall. "We were very excited, we had obviously the guy we wanted out the draft the most was Anthony Coombs, and we were able to trade up and get him," Barker said. The Argos went on to select Jas Dhillon, a 6-3, 300-pound offensive lineman UBC, Thomas Miles, a linebacker from the Manitoba Bisons, University of Montreal running back Alexandre Dupuis, Evan Pszczonak, a wide receiver out of the University of Windsor, Tore Corrado, a wide receiver from Simon Fraser University, and Acadia defensive lineman Kirby Fletcher. Cheap Cowboys Jerseys Cheap Giants Jerseys Cheap Eagles Jerseys Cheap Redskins Jerseys Cheap Falcons Jerseys Cheap Panthers Jerseys Cheap Saints Jerseys Cheap Buccaneers Jerseys Cheap Cardinals Jerseys Cheap 49ers Jerseys Cheap Seahawks Jerseys Cheap Rams Jerseys Cheap Bears Jerseys Cheap Lions Jerseys Cheap Packers Jerseys Cheap Vikings Jerseys ' ' '